Add Multiple Authors to a Document

The author line is the only way to assign more than one author to a document for display in the byline. Additionally, only the HTML 5 and Docbook converters can convert documents with multiple authors.

Multi-author syntax

The information for each author is concluded with a semicolon (;).

Example 1. Author line structure for multiple authors

= Document Title
firstname middlename lastname <email>; firstname middlename lastname <email>

Directly after each author’s last name or optional email, enter a semicolon (;) followed by a space, and then enter the next author’s information.

Escape a trailing character reference

If an author name segment ends with a character reference (e.g., ®), you must escape it from processing. One way to escape it is to add a trailing attribute reference (e.g., {empty}). If the character reference appears at the end of the last author name segment, you can use a second semicolon instead.

A better way of escaping the character reference is to replace it with an attribute reference (e.g., {reg}).

Even if the character reference is escaped, the segments of the author name will not be processed. Instead, the whole name will be assigned to the author and firstname attributes. This limitation may be lifted in the future.

List multiple authors on the author line

The author line in Example 2 lists the information for three authors. Each author’s information is separated by a semicolon (;). Notice that the author B. Steppenwolf doesn’t have an email, so the semicolon is placed at the end of their name.

Example 2. An author line with three authors and two email addresses

= The Intrepid Chronicles
Kismet R. Lee <kismet@asciidoctor.org>; B. Steppenwolf; Pax Draeke <pax@asciidoctor.org>

The result of Example 2 is displayed below.

Multiple authors and their emails displayed on the byline

The information for each author can also be referenced in the document using their respective built-in attribute.

If an author name ends with with a character reference, you can preserve the semicolon in the character reference by adding a trailing attribute reference:

AsciiDoc&#174;{empty} WG; Another Author

Another solution entails moving the character reference to an attribute and inserting it using an attribute reference:

:reg: &#174;
AsciiDoc{reg} WG; Another Author

Even though the character reference is escaped, the segments of the author name will not be processed.